Viability Gap Funding Assurance is like a Bank Guarantee. Who ever be the manager, the bank has to oblige and similarly, the CG or SG who ever signs the VGF guarantee will have to allocate funds for the same - as they do for interest payments etc.

It is generally the CG which gives VGF Guarantee as they collect most of the taxes from people and control SG's finances.

What about projects like Jaipur Metro, which is being financed by CG and built by DMRC? How does it work when the company is a govt entity and not on PPP basis?

Malaysia is vying for a share in the Rs 15 lakh crore infrastructure pie envisioned under the Vision 2023 programme, with a 25 member delegation exploring investments in monorail, real estate and ports in the State.

Syed Ali Alattas, president of National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and Consul General of South India Anuar Kasman said that Malaysia has is giving special attention to the State in promoting trade ties.

Speaking during a business meeting organised by Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Monday, Alattas said the delegation will be meeting the State Industries Minister P Thangamani as they have “special ideas” for the State.

Malaysia is also banking on the 1.8 million Malaysians of Tamil origin to boost the ties with the State. “We have strong cultural ties and 1.8 million people who are Tamils,” said Datuk and the Malaysian Consul General Kasman. Alattas said the delegation is exploring investments in monorail, satellite townships besides port infrastructure. M Nandakumar, convenor energy panel Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that the state is seeking private investment in building state’s infrastructure. Interestingly, Malaysian firms are currently working on 69 construction projects worth $3.5 billion in India of which majority are in the State.

Somi Hazari, executive committee member of SICCI said that business firms in the State are looking for tie-ups with electronic firms besides those in processed and snacked food and palm oil segments. Alattas was also all praise for the State’s growth in renewable energy sector and said that the State serves as an example for Malaysia to venture into renewable sector.

Assume current govt assures, what happens when new govt comes after 4yrs and it can always U-turn. Will it not be a disaster?

The next government will come up in May 2016. We are in July 2012.

Monorail construction will not take as much time as Metro rail Construction. My assumption is that by early 2014, the first pillars for Mono Rail would be laid. And by May 2016, we should see one line open.

As i opined earlier, Monorail is a marquee project for JJ and she will go to any extent... it is to JJ what Noon Meal scheme was to MGR (not comparable in terms of benefits but i am trying to say the urgency is there with JJ)

As i opined earlier, Monorail is a marquee project for JJ and she will go to any extent... it is to JJ what Noon Meal scheme was to MGR (not comparable in terms of benefits but i am trying to say the urgency is there with JJ)

Hopefully the monorail construction starts in 2013 and metro rail plan and approal for OMR and Sriperumbadur metro put in place earliest by JJ.........

With the government finalising the five developers in the initial stage of the tendering process, the monorail project has been put on the fast track.

The state government has expedited the works for finalising the project developer and will start preliminary discussions this week to formulate criterion to be complied with by the identified bidders during the second and final stage.

Of the three proposed corridors, the first stretch — Vandalur to Velachery (23 km) — will have 14 stations, 12 stations will come up along the Poonamallee - Vadapalani stretch (18 km) and 11 along the third corridor — Poonamallee to Kathipara junction (16 km).

While the proposed three corridors will have a total of 37 stations on paper, in reality it will be 34 as the monorails running between Poonamallee and Kathipara and Poonamallee to Vadapalani stretches will be halting at two common stations (Karayanchavadi and Kumananchavadi besides the source station Poonamallee).

Depots for the monorails would be at Vadapalani and Poonamallee stations where trains can be berthed, serviced and repaired.

The Kathipara station will boast of the multi-modal transport system with the monorail integrating with MRTS, Metro Rail, and EMU service.

The empowered committee headed by the chief secretary and comprising secretaries of various departments, which was appointed for identifying a developer, had on Friday zeroed in on five out of eight firms that had submitted bids for securing the implementation of the scheme. The committee has also finalised the list of stations.

It’s been a year since the announcement of the project and officials have expedited works now to finalise the developer.

The empowered committee will meet again this week and discuss about formulating various criterion that have to be fulfilled by the five consortia of firms during the final stage of the bidding process: Request for Proposal (RFP). '
“The committee will lay a set of rules, including number of monorails to be operated and the operational frequency, besides the ticketing system that should be complied with by the bidders,” a highly places source told this newspaper on Saturday.

This map shows a connection between madipakkam koot road and velachery. Is it really possible? because the road between madipakkam koot road(axis bank stop) and velachery is zig-zag and u need a lot of LA. Or is the station that is going to be near kaiveli named as madipakkam koot road, as the proposed route takes only the velachery main road from narayanapuram. In that case, the station will be far away from the actual koot road.

If they extend the vadapalani line to Kodambakkam (connectivity to EMU), Nungambakkam, Mount Road (connectivity to Metro), Alwarpet and finally terminating to Marina (connectivity to MRTS), that would be awesome. If it branches out to Usman Road connectiving to T Nagar hotspots, bus terminus, CIT Nagar, Saidapet (connectivity to EMU, Metro), Little mount, Raj Bhavan, Gandhi Mandapam, Madhya Kailash (connectivity to MRTS), touching Adyar bus terminus and terminating at Thiruvanmiyur bus terminus would be good. I know it is too much to expect, but the route alignment would make more revenue to the operator, more connectivity and for sure takes more cars from the road.

Good thoughts. The critical issue with monorail is that it needs to kick off. That too shortly, so that it can be completed prior to next election. Secondly, as observed, the end point of at least Kathipara should either meet Metro or some major transit point for it to be effective.

Thirdly, since it is still phase I and everything being up in the air, it makes it difficult to satisfy all the valid wishes with just this phase.

Only Time can tell. The key to success here is the choice of operator (Hitachi/Bombardier...) The performance of this route is very critical for the future of mono in India, esp in larger metros. Its success also will open the option of Mono for Tier II cities in TN.

Speaking of which, why hasn't the govt gone ahead with Coimbatore, Madurai mono? (Simple answer would suffice as I don't want to derail the thread).

IMHO, the burden of proving the success in Chennai lies ahead of duplication. It is definitely prudent to set the ball in motion before shooting their mouth. Even Metro was first proven in Delhi, before the duplication started.

Two key factors will determine the usage - accesibility/inter connectivity and frequency of services. These two can make Mono viable and effective even in short term.

Based on insider news (Kuruvi) amma is very keen to announce the decsion on Monorail soon. She want this pet project to get completed before 2016 and see it running. Guys at helm are burning the midnight oil to see this is done. It seems the japanese consortium have an edge due to funding issues.

Based on insider news (Kuruvi) amma is very keen to announce the decsion on Monorail soon. She want this pet project to get completed before 2016 and see it running. Guys at helm are burning the midnight oil to see this is done. It seems the japanese consortium have an edge due to funding issues.

Madipakkam koot road is actually near UTI bus stop in Madipakkam. It is in Medavakkam main road and has nothing to do with Velachery tambaram road- Ram nagar road junction. The station should have been Medavakkam koot road as somebody mentioned.

This particular place was known as "Madippakam Koot" road time immemorial from 40 years before. Medavakkam Koot road is where Shoilnganallur road meets Velachery tambaram road. Any way we can revise the name if you want.

CHENNAI: The state government on Monday constituted a nine-member project management unit (committee) comprising senior officials of various departments for the "successful and timely completion" of the mono rail project. The showpiece Chennai Metro Rail project is on the fast track and the state government does not appear to want to lag behind with regard to the network that is aimed at acting as a feeder service.

The committee will be led by the project director of Mono Rail and include chief engineers of public works department and highways, district revenue officers of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, joint directors of rural development and municipal administration, superintending engineers of Metrowater and electricity board and chief accounts officer of treasuries and accounts. Five project promoters, including Hitachi, Bombardier and L&T, have been shortlisted and the committee is expected to work out the modules of speedy implementation of the programme.

"The committee will ensure that the project need not wait for individual departments to respond. Representatives of various agencies will extend support as and when required. Though land acquisition is minimal, issues such as shifting of water lines and alienation of government properties need to be looked into," said a senior government official. Apart from Chennai Corporation areas, the project will run through many village panchayats in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, hence the services of the revenue officers of these districts have been requisitioned, sources said.

Monorail tracks occupy less than 42 sq m of space where columns are located on a entral median and are easy to construct and execute, besides causing minimal disruption during construction. With no grid power required for operation, the facility, it is claimed, is environment-friendly and cost-efficient.

The government plans to take up 54 km in the first phase, covering three corridors at an estimated Rs 8,500 crore. The project under DBFOT (Design, Build, Fund, Operate and Transfer) basis will not place any financial burden on the state. The selection of a bidder is on, with the state working on request for proposals (RFP), the early process for tendering, sources said.

Monorail tracks occupy less than 42 sq m of space where columns are located on a entral median and are easy to construct and execute, besides causing minimal disruption during construction. With no grid power required for operation, the facility, it is claimed, is environment-friendly and cost-efficient.

The government plans to take up 54 km in the first phase, covering three corridors at an estimated Rs 8,500 crore. The project under DBFOT (Design, Build, Fund, Operate and Transfer) basis will not place any financial burden on the state. The selection of a bidder is on, with the state working on request for proposals (RFP), the early process for tendering, sources said.